The Bum's July's MLB POD'S-Stats-News

[Kaptain]

as always....gl today BUM....give em "L"

[StarDust Bum]

Howzit going Kapt......not a good 4th yesterday......Only winna was POD # 1 if am not mistaken.......

Looking to rebound today..............

[StarDust Bum]

Diamond Trends - Friday
July 5, 2013

By Vince Akins


SU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Rays are 12-0 since August 19, 2011 at home after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $1200.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Diamondbacks are 0-14 OU since August 22, 2012 at home after a one run win for a net profit of $1410 when playing the under.

PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- When Tim Hudson starts the Braves are 0-10 since June 03, 2005 on the road after more walks than strike outs at home for a net profit of $1105 when playing against.

MLB BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:

-- The Mariners are 1-12 (+1,176) since August 2008 after a game where they left at least 13 runners on base as a team.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Dodgers are 0-7 since August 06, 2012 vs a team that has lost at least their last three games and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $965 when playing against.

-- The Indians are 0-8 OU since June 01, 2012 after a loss in which they left 18+ men on base and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing the under.

[StarDust Bum]

Around the Horn - Friday

July 4, 2013



NATIONAL LEAGUE


Pittsburgh at Chicago - 4:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Pittsburgh Pirates Liriano (7-3, 2.23 ERA) 52-32 3-8 L11 away Game 1's

Chicago Cubs Samardjiza (5-7, 3.34 ERA) 36-47 7-2 L9 off loss

-- Pirates lost to Phillies, 6-4 on Thursday
-- Cubs lost to Athletics, 1-0 on Thursday



San Diego at Washington - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

San Diego Padres Cashner (5-3, 3.31 ERA) 40-46 1-8 L9 away

Washington Nationals Gonzalez (5-3, 3.09 ERA) 43-42 4-0 L4 Game 1's

-- Padres lost to Red Sox, 8-2 on Thursday
-- Nationals beat Brewers, 8-5 on Thursday



Atlanta at Philadelphia - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Atlanta Braves Hudson (4-7, 4.22 ERA) 49-36 1-4 L5 away Game 1's

Philadelphia Phillies Lee (9-2, 2.59 ERA) 41-45 1-5 L6 off win

-- Braves lost to Marlins, 4-3 on Thursday
-- Phillies beat Pirates, 6-4 on Thursday



N.Y. Mets at Milwaukee - 8:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

New York Mets Wheeler (1-1, 5.06 ERA) 35-47 OVER 9-3 L12 overall

Milwaukee Brewers Hellweg (0-1, 20.25 ERA) 34-50 9-4 L13 vs. NL East

-- Mets lost to Diamondbacks, 5-4 on Thursday
-- Brewers lost to Nationals, 8-5 on Thursday



Miami at St. Louis - 8:15 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Miami Marlins Turner (2-0, 1.76 ERA) 32-52 10-3 L13 overall

St. Louis Cardinals Westbrook (4-3, 2.95 ERA) 50-34 8-2 L10 home Game 1's

-- Marlins beat Braves, 4-3 on Thursday
-- Cardinals lost to Angels, 6-5 on Thursday



Colorado at Arizona - 9:40 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Colorado Rockies De La Rosa (8-4, 3.09 ERA) 42-44 UNDER 9-0-1 L10 vs. ARZ

Arizona Diamondbacks Skaggs (7-3, 3.59 ERA) 44-41 3-6 L9 home vs. division

-- Rockies beat Dodgers, 9-5 on Thursday
-- Diamondbacks beat Mets, 5-4 on Thursday



Los Angeles at San Francisco - 10:15 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Los Angeles Dodgers Ryu (6-3, 2.83 ERA) 40-44 10-2 L12 overall

San Francisco Giants Cain (5-4, 4.29 ERA) 39-45 3-6 L9 vs. division

-- Dodgers lost to Rockies, 9-5 on Thursday
-- Giants postponed by rain on Thursday



AMERICAN LEAGUE


Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Baltimore Orioles Gonzalez (6-3, 3.77 ERA) 48-38 1-5 L6 away

New York Yankees Nova (2-2, 4.63 ERA) 46-39 6-2 L8 home Game 1's

-- Orioles lost to White Sox, 3-2 on Thursday
-- Yankees beat Twins, 9-5 on Thursday



Detroit at Cleveland - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Detroit Tigers Porcello (4-6, 5.21 ERA) 46-38 1-6 L7 as away favorites

Cleveland Indians Masterson (10-6, 3.48 ERA) 45-40 6-1 L7 off loss

-- Tigers beat Blue Jays, 11-1 on Thursday
-- Indians lost to Royals, 10-7 on Thursday



Minnesota at Toronto - 7:07 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Minnesota Twins Correia (6-5, 4.08 ERA) 36-46 2-8 L10 away

Toronto Blue Jays Buehrle (4-5, 4.81 ERA) 41-44 8-0 L8 home Game 1's

-- Twins lost to Yankees, 9-5 on Thursday
-- Blue Jays lost to Tigers, 11-1 on Thursday



Chicago at Tampa Bay - 7:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Chicago White Sox Axelrod (3-4, 4.57 ERA) 34-48 1-5 L6 off win

Tampa Bay Rays Hellickson (7-3, 4.90 ERA) 46-40 OVER 5-2 L7 home Game 1's

-- White Sox beat Orioles, 3-2 on Thursday
-- Rays beat Astros, 7-5 on Thursday



Houston at Texas - 8:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Houston Astros Harrell (5-8, 4.59 ERA) 31-55 1-5 L6 away Game 1's

Texas Rangers Tepesch (3-6, 4.71 ERA) 49-36 5-0 L5 vs. HOU

-- Astros lost to Rays, 7-5 on Thursday
-- Rangers beat Mariners, 5-4 on Thursday



Oakland at Kansas City - 8:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Oakland Athletics Milone (7-7, 4.17 ERA) 50-36 5-1 L6 away Game 1's

Kansas City Royals Davis (4-6, 5.55 ERA) 40-42 6-4 L10 as underdog

-- Athletics beat Cubs, 1-0 on Thursday
-- Royals beat Indians, 10-7 on Thursday



Boston at Los Angeles - 10:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Boston Red Sox Doubront (4-3, 4.22 ERA) 53-34 8-1 L9 overall

Los Angeles Angels Wilson (8-5, 3.63 ERA) 41-44 7-2 L9 vs. BOS

-- Red Sox beat Padres, 8-2 on Thursday
-- Angels beat Cardinals, 6-5 on Thursday



INTERLEAGUE

Seattle at Cincinnati - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Seattle Mariners Harang (3-7, 5.08 ERA) 37-48 OVER 10-2 L12 overall

Cincinnati Reds Leake (7-3, 2.52 ERA) 49-36 7-3 L10 home

-- Mariners lost to Rangers, 5-4 on Thursday
-- Reds postponed by rain on Thursday

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (52-32) at Cubs (36-47)
Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: July 05, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


The Chicago Cubs' offense seemed to be coming around, but it was shut out for the first time in nearly a month in the team's most recent contest.

It hasn't been able to score off Francisco Liriano, either.

The left-hander looks to continue his solid run this season by helping the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Cubs for the sixth time in seven tries Friday at Wrigley Field.

Liriano (7-3, 2.23 ERA) has allowed one run or none in seven of his 10 starts, striking out 67 in 60 2-3 innings. He beat Milwaukee on Saturday, yielding a run in six innings of a 2-1 win and registering six strikeouts for the third straight outing.

"We're playing pretty good baseball right now and have to continue it, so every five days I go out and try to do my job," Liriano said. "So far, so good."

The left-hander's success has been a major reason the Pirates (52-32) possess baseball's best winning percentage past the halfway point of the season.

"We're having fun, we're playing hard and we're giving everything we have," Liriano said.

Liriano has been stellar in two starts against Chicago this season, allowing two hits in seven innings in each and winning 1-0 on May 22 and 2-0 on June 7.

That last matchup marked the last time the Cubs were shut out prior to Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Oakland. Alfonso Soriano and Starlin Castro recorded the team's only hits off last-minute Triple-A call-up Dan Straily.

The only run came on Wellington Castillo's passed ball in the seventh off a pitch from Matt Guerrier, who came on after Travis Wood dominated for six innings.

"It was a shame," manager Dale Sveum said. "Six shutout innings. (Wood) pitched another great ballgame. One little passed ball."

The Cubs (36-47) had averaged 6.1 runs and finished with at least 10 hits five times over their previous nine games.

"You have to keep battling every single day," Wood said. "Their guy pitched awesome. He kept us off balance and off the scoreboard. Have to find a way to win these games."

Jeff Samardzija enters his start Friday not having received one run of support in two outings versus Pittsburgh this year and lost both. He opposed Liriano in May, giving up one run in seven innings, before allowing four runs in six frames of a 6-2 defeat to the Pirates on June 8. He's still 3-2 with a 1.66 ERA in five career starts against them.

Samardzija (5-7, 3.34) is 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA over his last three outings after giving up two runs in seven innings of a 5-3, 11-inning win over Seattle on Saturday.

The right-hander hopes for another solid outing against a Pittsburgh team that had won nine straight before dropping two of three to Philadelphia, including Thursday's 6-4 defeat.

Andrew McCutchen drove in two runs and is batting .372 with nine RBIs over his last 11 games. Starling Marte went 2 for 4 and is hitting .356 during a nine-game hitting streak.

The Pirates have won six of nine meetings with the Cubs this season, though Chicago ended a five-game skid in the series with a 4-1 win June 9. McCutchen is hitting .444 with three doubles over the last five matchups.

It's unclear if Cubs center fielder Brian Bogusevic will play after leaving Thursday's contest in the third inning with a left hamstring injury. He's hitting .300 in eight games since being called up from the minors.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Orioles (48-38) at Yankees (46-39)
Game: 1
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 05, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The New York Yankees certainly haven't been immune to the damage Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis has done this season.

Davis looks to continue the hot hitting that has aided Baltimore's longest winning streak over its AL East rivals in 16 years as the Orioles open a three-game set at Yankee Stadium on Friday night.

After completing a four-game sweep in Minnesota with Thursday's 9-5 victory, the Yankees (46-39) have a chance to equal their season-best winning streak as they begin a stretch of 10 straight at home.

They also won five in a row May 8-12.

The four consecutive wins over the Twins followed three straight losses in Baltimore during which New York was outscored 19-8.

"We're going home for a long stretch, and we're taking some momentum with us," Thursday's winner David Phelps said. "It would've been real easy to take what happened in Baltimore and carry it over here."

Davis pounded New York pitching in the final two games of that series, hitting three homers with six RBIs to lead the Orioles (48-38) to their fourth and fifth consecutive wins against the Yankees.

The first baseman, who ranks among the major league leaders with a .327 average and 83 RBIs and tops all players with 32 homers, is 9 for 21 with five home runs and nine RBIs in his last six games versus New York.

Now he'll try to help Baltimore extend its longest winning streak against the Yankees since an eight-game run bridging the 1996 and 1997 seasons.

Davis, though, hasn't had the same type of success at Yankee Stadium, where he's hitting .228 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 27 games.

Scheduled New York starter Ivan Nova (2-2, 4.63 ERA) makes only his second start since April as he fills in for Hiroki Kuroda, who may only miss one outing due to a hip injury.

Nova struck out seven and allowed three runs over 6 2-3 innings in his last spot start, a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay on June 23.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 10.26 ERA in his last three starts against the Orioles. He also worked 5 2-3 innings of relief, giving up two runs in an 11-3 loss at Baltimore on Saturday.

Davis went deep off Nova in that appearance and is 6 for 16 with two homers and seven RBIs lifetime in this matchup.

Teammate Matt Wieters should be happy to see Nova again, since he's 9 for 21 with three homers and three doubles against him.

Baltimore, which dropped two of three to the last-place White Sox to open its road trip, appears to have a solid opportunity to bounce back behind right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (6-3, 3.77).

Since allowing a season-worst five earned runs over six innings against Detroit on May 31, Gonzalez has gone 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in five starts.

He's 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four career starts versus the Yankees, allowing four earned runs over 13-plus innings for an 0-1 record in two starts against them this season.

He'll have to contend with Robinson Cano, who was 14 for 24 with four homers and 10 RBIs over a six-game stretch before going 0 for 4 Thursday.

Cano is hitting .410 with two homers and six RBIs in his last 10 games against Baltimore.

Although the Orioles have won six of nine in the season series, the Yankees took two of three at home in April.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Twins (36-46) at Blue Jays (41-44)
Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: July 05, 2013 7:07 PM EDT


Despite the Toronto Blue Jays' recent struggles, facing them might not offer the Minnesota Twins a good opportunity to end their current slide.

Looking to end their woes in Toronto, the Twins hope to avoid a sixth consecutive loss Friday night against a Blue Jays team trying to snap its own three-game skid.

Minnesota (36-46) opened an eight-game homestand by winning two of three from Kansas City, but dropped the finale to the Royals before being outscored 29-14 while losing four straight to the New York Yankees.

"It was a disappointing homestand," manager Ron Gardenhire told the team's official website.

The Twins have lost 10 of 13 and are mired in their longest losing streak since dropping 10 in a row from May 14-24. They'll play the final 10 before the All-Star break on the road, where they've averaged 3.0 runs while losing eight of 10.

Minnesota has lost 15 of 19 to the Blue Jays (41-44), including seven of eight at Rogers Centre. The Twins haven't won any of their eight series in Toronto since 2005.

Canada native Justin Morneau homered twice for Minnesota on Thursday, but rookie Kyle Gibson was tagged for eight runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 9-5 loss to the Yankees. Those were Morneau's only hits in 14 at_bats during that series.

He's a lifetime .207 hitter at Toronto, but six of his 18 hits have been home runs.

Teammate Joe Mauer went 3 for 29 with nine strikeouts on the homestand following an eight-game stretch in which he hit .444. He's 2 for 21 in his last six at Toronto.

Morneau and Mauer are batting a combined .207 against scheduled Blue Jays starter Mark Buehrle (4-5, 4.81 ERA). The left-hander has not faced the Twins since 2011, when he allowed seven runs - one earned - over 30 2-3 innings to go 2-1 in four starts against them.

Buehrle is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his last four at home, but his two most recent outings were on the road and he went 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA. He allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings while not factoring in the decision of a 5-4 loss at Boston on Sunday.

"I made some pitches and they found holes," Buehrle told the Blue Jays' official website. "That's why it's frustrating."

Toronto opened a four-game home set against Detroit with an 8-3 victory Monday but was outscored 24-9 while losing the next three. The Blue Jays, who got six hits in Thursday's 11-1 loss to the Tigers, are 3-8 since winning 11 in a row.

"That feels like a long time ago," manager John Gibbons said of the franchise record-tying streak.

Jose Bautista went 0 for 4 on Thursday after hitting .524 in the previous six contests. Edwin Encarnacion was 1 for 2 with a walk after missing three games with a hamstring injury.

Bautista and Encarnacion are hitting a combined .375 (9 for 24) with three homers and three doubles against scheduled Minnesota starter Kevin Correia (6-5, 4.08).

Correia is looking to bounce back after he allowed five runs in five innings while not factoring in the decision of a 9-8 loss to Kansas City on Sunday. The right-hander had a 2.55 ERA in his previous three starts.

He's 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays but hasn't faced them since 2011.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (46-38) at Indians (45-40)
Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: July 05, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


If the Cleveland Indians are to again overtake Detroit atop the AL Central, they'll need Justin Masterson to continue his home success and help end their recent struggles against the Tigers.

Masterson and the Indians look to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat to the visiting Tigers, who'll try to win their fourth straight in the opener of a key four-game set Friday night.

Detroit (46-38) has won six of eight versus Cleveland this season, and swept a three-game home set June 7-9 to increase its division lead to 5 1/2 games over the Indians at the time.

Since then, the Indians (45-40) have won 15 of 23 while the Tigers are 11-12. Cleveland held a one-half game division lead over Detroit on Tuesday, but is currently 1 1/2 after losing two straight at Kansas City to conclude a 7-4 trip.

"I think we're all thrilled we're going back home," manager Terry Francona told the Indians' official website after Thursday's 10-7 loss to the Royals.

Though Cleveland has won 22 of 31 at home, two of those losses came to a Detroit club that's won five of seven at Progressive Field.

The Tigers outscored Toronto 24-9 to win three straight after dropping six of seven. Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter each had three RBIs in Thursday's 11-1 rout of the Blue Jays despite the absence of star Miguel Cabrera, who sat for the first time this season with a sore back.

"I'm sure he would play if I asked him," manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official website. "I made the decision, and I'll take the responsibility for it. He always wants to play."

Leading the majors in batting (.364), RBIs (85) and second in home runs (26), Cabrera has hit .409 with four homers and 10 RBIs in his last five at Cleveland.

Hunter is 7 for 13 in the last three games, and batting .333 this season against the Indians.

Cabrera and Hunter have hit a combined .368 with five home runs versus Masterson (10-6, 3.48 ERA), who is 2-7 with a 5.45 ERA in 12 starts against the Tigers. He allowed four runs, including a three-run homer to Don Kelly, in seven innings of a 4-1 loss at Detroit on June 9.

However, the right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA in six home starts since he went 1-1 with a 3.92 ERA in the first three.

Masterson's most recent outing came on the road when he tossed a six-hitter and struck out eight during Sunday's 4-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox to record his AL-leading third complete game.

"I think that's the challenge for us as starters - try to go out there and get as much as we can and go as far as we can," he said.

The Tigers counter with Rick Porcello (4-6, 5.21), who has an 8.82 ERA while losing three straight starts since he went 2-1 with a 1.33 ERA in the previous four. The right-hander yielded 13 runs in his previous two before he gave up three in six innings of a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Porcello, who is appealing a six-game suspension for hitting Tampa Bay's Ben Zobrist in that contest, allowed two runs over six innings in each of his two starts to go 1-0 against the Indians this season.

Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis is 6 for 20 with a homer against Porcello, and batting .462 with four home runs and 20 RBIs during a 15-game hitting streak.

He's hit .376 with 30 RBIs while reaching base safely in 35 consecutive contests.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Padres (40-46) at Nationals (43-42)
Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: July 05, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


A lineup change and the return of Wilson Ramos may have gotten their offense on the right track, but the Washington Nationals haven't had much trouble scoring lately with Gio Gonzalez on the mound.

The Nationals look to build off their latest effort at the plate for the left-hander Friday night when they host the San Diego Padres, losers of a season-high six straight.

After Washington (43-42) was limited to one run and 13 hits in losses Tuesday and Wednesday, manager Davey Johnson mixed things up Thursday. He moved shortstop Ian Desmond up to second in the batting order and dropped outfielder Jayson Werth down to sixth.

The immediate results were positive as Desmond and Werth went a combined 6 for 7 in an 8-5 victory over Milwaukee to split the four-game home series.

"Yeah, that came out all right,' Johnson said. "You know, once in a while I have a great idea.'

After missing 44 games because of a strained left hamstring, Ramos went 3 for 4 with a career-high five RBIs and hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning.

"He's a statement player,' Desmond said of Ramos. "And definitely somebody who's waiting for his turn in the spotlight.'

Star Bryce Harper hasn't done as well in his four games back after being sidelined with a knee injury. He's 1 for 15 with a homer and six strikeouts, though he has homered in three of four career games against the Padres (40-46).

The Nationals have been swinging the bats well for Gonzalez (5-3, 3.09 ERA), giving him 17 runs to help him win his last two starts. He had received 13 total runs during an eight-start winless streak prior to those victories.

Gonzalez yielded three hits over seven shutout innings to beat the New York Mets 13-2 on Sunday, leaving him 2-0 with 44 strikeouts and a 1.79 ERA in 40 1-3 innings over his last six outings.

Gonzalez, 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two career starts against the Padres, gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings before leaving without a decision in a 6-5 win at San Diego on May 17.

This time, Gonzalez faces a struggling San Diego team that has totaled seven runs while batting .180 during its losing streak. Logan Forsythe, Chase Headley and Pedro Ciriaco are a combined 6 for 62 over that span.

"I think it's looked worse than it has been,' Headley said. "We've had some at_bats in situations where we had a chance to drive in runs and the guys hit the ball hard and it just hasn't gone in the hole for us.'

Jesus Guzman provided a bright spot with three hits as the Padres dropped to 1-6 on their road trip with an 8-2 loss at Boston on Thursday.

Everth Cabrera, who leads the team with a .305 average, is expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday after missing 17 games with an injured left hamstring.

The Padres hope to avoid their longest losing streak since a nine-game skid from Aug. 24-Sept. 3, 2011, as they give the ball to Andrew Cashner (5-3, 3.31) to open this three-game series.

The right-hander has gone 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA while receiving 13 runs to work with in his last five outings. He allowed two runs over six innings and did not fare in the decision in a 6-2 loss at Miami on Sunday.

Cashner gave up three runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 13-4 win in his only career start against the Nationals on May 19.

The teams split that four-game series in San Diego.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Braves (49-36) at Phillies (41-45)
Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: July 05, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Cliff Lee hasn't lost in more than two months, and considering the way he's dominated the Atlanta Braves of late, that might not change Friday night.

The left-hander goes for his longest winning streak in nearly four years as the Philadelphia Phillies host Atlanta in the opener of a three-game series.

Lee (9-2, 2.59 ERA) is 7-0 in 11 outings since losing to Cleveland on May 1. His 83 2-3 innings during that span are the most in baseball, with Lee going at least seven each time out. He's limited the opposition to two runs or fewer in eight of those games.

The former Cy Young Award winner is looking to win eight consecutive decisions for the first time since winning eight straight starts July 16-Aug. 24, 2009, a stretch during which he was traded from Cleveland to Philadelphia.

The last time he saw Atlanta was his first start of this season as he threw eight innings of two-hit ball in a 2-0 road victory April 4 - Philadelphia's lone win in the club's three meetings this year.

Lee was 1-3 with a 6.15 ERA in his first five career starts against the Braves, but he's 4-1 with an 0.78 ERA in the last six, limiting them to a .176 average in 46 innings with 45 strikeouts and three walks.

The only damage against Lee on Saturday came on a three-run shot by the Dodgers' Hanley Ramirez - just the third homer he's allowed in his last eight starts. Lee surrendered four hits over seven innings without a decision in a 4-3 loss.

Atlanta (49-36) counters with Tim Hudson (4-7, 4.22), in the midst of a 10-start winless drought. His last win came four days after Lee's most recent loss.

Run support has been an issue, as the right-hander received a total of 10 runs in the first nine outings of his winless stretch. While he was backed by four runs in an 11-5 win over Arizona on Saturday, he couldn't turn it into an individual victory, allowing four runs over 5 2-3 innings.

"I wish I'd have had an opportunity at a decision to get one more out, but the important thing is we won the ballgame," Hudson said.

Road starts have been particularly unkind to Hudson, as he's 1-7 with a 5.71 ERA in nine outings away from home and winless in the last eight. Perhaps Philadelphia is a good place to change course as he's recorded wins in two of his last three starts there with seven-plus scoreless inning efforts in the two victories.

Hudson encounters a lineup that has been producing plenty of offense of late, but it hasn't necessarily translated to success for the Phillies (41-45). They registered 14 hits in a 6-4 win at Pittsburgh on Thursday, the 13th time in 20 games they've had at least 10. Their 211 hits dating back to June 13 lead the majors, and the club's 94 runs in that span also rank near the top of baseball. But they also allowed 94 runs while going 10-10.

Ben Revere was 3 for 5 and drove in two runs Thursday and is 13 for 29 over his last seven contests.

The Braves had won six of seven before dropping two straight to Miami, including a 4-3 defeat Thursday that saw Craig Kimbrel surrender the go-ahead run in the ninth.

Freddie Freeman went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and is batting .393 during an eight-game hitting streak, but he's 6 for 22 off Lee.

Ryan Howard is tied with Jose Reyes for the second-most hits all-time off Hudson, going 22 for 67 (.328) with seven homers, but is 3 for 27 in his last eight games overall.

The Braves have won 13 of the last 18 meetings.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mariners (37-48) at Reds (49-36)
Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: July 05, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Cincinnati Reds' lowest winning percentage against any opponent is versus the Seattle Mariners as they get ready to welcome back a familiar face to Great American Ball Park.

Aaron Harang hasn't pitched in Cincinnati since leaving the team he spent the majority of his career with and faces a tough matchup opposite Mike Leake in Friday night's opener of a three-game set.

Cincinnati (49-36) is 1-8 all-time against Seattle (37-48), with the most notable connection between these franchises being the clubs Ken Griffey Jr. played the bulk of his career with.

A less notable connection from a Seattle standpoint is Harang (3-7, 5.08 ERA), who is in his first season with the Mariners but went 75-80 with a 4.28 ERA from 2003-10 for Cincinnati.

Harang won his first start against the Reds since leaving the club by allowing one run over seven innings last July 4 in a 4-1 victory for the Dodgers, but he has yet to return to Cincinnati.

"I like Harang," manager Dusty Baker told the Reds' official website. "Harang was a big part of us rebuilding this. I'm sure people will like seeing him. We haven't seen him (in Cincinnati) in a while."

The veteran right-hander is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in five road starts.

Harang will be up against another righty born in San Diego in Leake (7-3, 2.52), who was scheduled to pitch Thursday against San Francisco before that contest was postponed due to rain.

Leake is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last four outings, yielding four runs - one earned - over seven innings in Saturday's 6-4, 11-inning victory at Texas.

He has never faced Seattle, and is 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA in his last seven interleague starts.

The Reds have won three straight by yielding three runs over 26 innings in that span, including Homer Bailey's no-hitter Tuesday against the Giants.

Their offense continues to struggle, averaging 3.2 runs while batting .236 over the last 10 games. Their top four RBI leaders – Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier and Joey Votto - have combined for 16 in that stretch.

Seattle missed a chance at a three-game sweep in Texas with Thursday's 5-4 defeat. The Mariners blew a two-run lead in the seventh inning and fell despite a 14-8 advantage in hits after going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

"We've got to do better with guys on base," said Raul Ibanez, who homered among a season-high four hits and three RBIs.

Ibanez is batting .381 with seven homers and 13 RBIs during a 10-game streak, although he is 2 for 9 against Leake.

Justin Smoak went 6 for 13 in the Rangers series.

Outfielder Michael Saunders hasn't started since a June 26 contest against Pittsburgh due to a finger injury, but he is expected to be in the lineup Friday.

"We'll get him back in there (Friday)," manager Eric Wedge told the Mariners' official website. "That's the plan right now."

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: White Sox (34-48) at Rays (46-40)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: July 05, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Chicago White Sox's season has been filled with its share of disappointment, sparking discussions they may be looking to revamp the roster.

If Adam Dunn is a player being shopped, he's sure increasing his value.

He'll look to stay hot and help Chicago make it five straight road wins against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

The White Sox (34-48) are in last place in the AL Central and had lost five straight before taking two of three from Baltimore, including Thursday's 3-2 win. Dunn hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth for the victory, finishing 3 for 4 and also adding an RBI single in the sixth.

Dunn raised his average to .207 and is above the .200 mark for the first time since April 7. He's hitting .333 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs over his last 23 contests.

``Like I said from Day One, I've felt pretty good all year. Just wasn't getting any results," Dunn said. "Now it seems like I'm swinging at a little better pitches and putting some good wood on it."

Dunn had gone 0 for 21 with 13 strikeouts in his previous six against the Rays before hitting .357 with two homers as the teams split a four-game series in Chicago from April 25-28.

He hit a two-run shot off Jeremy Hellickson in the series opener, and he'll be on the hill again Friday looking to win his fourth straight start.

Hellickson (7-3, 4.90 ERA) has posted a 1.42 ERA over his last three after giving up a solo homer and striking out six in six innings of Sunday's 3-1 win over Detroit.

The right-hander won five of his six June starts, tying the franchise record for victories in a month after going 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA through April and May.

"I really can't put a finger on it. I was just giving up a really big inning every time out," Hellickson said. "Right now I'm just making a big pitch when I need to. Getting a lot of help out there."

Hellickson struck out eight but allowed three runs in the first inning and five through six frames of a 5-2 loss to the White Sox on April 25. He'll look to pitch Tampa Bay to its sixth win in seven games after a 7-5 win over Houston in 11 innings Thursday.

The Rays (46-40) got three hits and three RBIs from Yunel Escobar, and Desmond Jennings had his second three-hit game in three days.

James Loney's single extended his hitting streak to a career high-tying 15 games during which he's hitting .400.

Tampa Bay scored 28 runs in the four-game set with the Astros and may have another chance for a big night against struggling White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod, who has posted a 7.40 ERA over his last four outings.

Axelrod (3-4, 4.57) threw 111 pitches in six innings and allowed three runs - including two homers - in a 4-3 loss to Cleveland on Saturday, but was pleased with his outing.

"I feel like, all in all, it was a step in the right direction for me, and I pitched pretty well," Axelrod said.

The right-hander pitched well in the series finale versus the Rays in April, giving up three runs and four hits in six innings before the White Sox fell 8-3.

The Rays have batted .173 with eight total runs during a four-game home skid against Chicago.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Astros (31-55) at Rangers (49-36)
Game: 1
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: July 05, 2013 8:05 PM EDT


The Texas' Rangers' offense hasn't been productive lately, but perhaps a late rally in their last game is the starting point they need to break out.

Facing baseball's worst pitching staff for a three-game series could also help, though in the opener they'll draw a starter who has been solid of late.

Texas hopes its bats come alive Friday night as it hosts Lucas Harrell and the Houston Astros.

The Rangers (49-36) have won six of 10 despite a mediocre offensive stretch. They had scored 30 runs in nine games prior to Thursday's 5-4 win over Seattle, leaving 62 men on base in the process. They rank near the bottom of the majors with a .241 average with runners in scoring position, but had been especially poor in their last nine, hitting .192 in such situations.

Texas was on the verge of being swept at home for only the second time this season Thursday, trailing 3-1 before a four-run seventh inning turned things around. Adrian Beltre, who hit the second of his two homers to lead off the inning, finished 3 for 4 and is 13 for 33 (.394) over his last eight games.

It was his 24th career multihomer game and gave him 16 home runs this year. His .298 batting average leads the team.

"(Beltre) shows up every day and he not only comes to do his job, he comes to beat the opponent,' manager Ron Washington said of the third baseman, whose homer in the third inning was his first in 23 games. "He battles every single day and he makes everyone around him better."

But other Rangers, particularly Ian Kinsler and Mitch Moreland, are mired in slumps, though both registered a hit Thursday. Moreland is 6 for 40 (.150) over his last 11, while Kinsler is 3 for 27 in seven contests to lower his average to .281.

The Rangers have won five straight against Houston, batting .315 with 10 homers and 13 doubles.

The Astros' ERA of 4.78 ranks last in baseball, a big reason for the majors' worst record at 31-55. They lost for the eighth time in 10 games Thursday with a 7-5 defeat to Tampa Bay, but should feel good about giving the ball to Harrell (5-8, 4.59). He allowed the Rangers just one run in six innings in his first start of the season April 2, though it was in a losing effort as Houston lost 7-0.

Harrell has posted a 3.22 ERA over his last six starts, but has a 1-2 record to show for it with the Astros providing eight runs of support. He recorded a quality start for the fourth time in six games Sunday, limiting the Angels to one run and striking out seven in seven innings without a decision in a 3-1 loss.

"His stuff was probably as good as it had been all year," manager Bo Porter said.

A liner caught the right-hander on his left leg in the sixth inning, but Harrell said he was OK afterward.

"After the initial contact, it kind of faded away," he said. "You've just got to go back to making pitches."

Texas starter Nick Tepesch (3-6, 4.71) beat Houston on May 12, surrendering a run and four hits while striking out a season-high eight in six innings of a 12-7 victory, but the rookie is winless in his last eight starts since while posting a 5.31 ERA.

Beltre is 5 for 10 with two doubles off Harrell.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Athletics (50-36) at Royals (40-42)
Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: July 05, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


The Kansas City Royals have been putting up plenty of runs lately, though that wasn't the case when they faced the Oakland Athletics earlier this season.

With Oakland starter Tommy Milone struggling lately, Kansas City seeks another big offensive performance as it tries to end a four-game losing streak to the visiting A's on Friday night.

The Royals have scored 41 runs while winning four of their last six, rallying for a 10-7 win over Cleveland on Thursday. Lorenzo Cain hit his first career grand slam in the sixth, Eric Hosmer added a two-run homer in the seventh and Salvador Perez a bases-loaded double in the eighth.

``The character of this offense is we're not quitting,' said Hosmer, who is batting .440 with five homers during a six-game hitting streak. ``We told ourselves before, if we're going to make a run at this, these are big games to make up ground, facing the teams ahead of you in the division. We didn't want to let this opportunity slip away.'

Kansas City (40-42) sits in third place in the AL Central, 3 1/2 games behind second-place Cleveland.

"Hopefully we can get a little string of wins together," Thursday's starter James Shields said.

The Royals, though, have scored only five runs during their four-game skid against the A's, and were swept in a three-game series at Oakland from May 17-19.

Milone gave up one run in five innings in a 2-1 victory in the middle game and is 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA in three career starts versus Kansas City.

He hasn't been nearly as good of late, though. Milone (7-7, 4.17 ERA) was credited with a 7-5 win over St. Louis on Sunday, but he gave up five runs - four earned - and a career high-tying three homers in six innings. He has a 7.31 ERA over his last three starts after posting a 2.18 ERA in his previous three.

"I have to go in and check myself and keep us in the game," the left-hander said.

Oakland (50-36) will be looking to get back on track offensively after scoring one run in each of the last two games. It was able to pull out a 1-0 win in the series finale with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, as Derek Norris scored on a passed ball with two outs in the seventh inning.

The A's have won six of eight despite scoring a single run in three of their last five contests.

"That's what you look for: any chance to score," Norris said. "I tried to kick it into another gear."

Kansas City will send Wade Davis to the mound as he looks to bounce back from a dismal outing.

Davis (4-6, 5.55) had gone 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA over his previous four starts before tying a career worst with five walks and giving up six runs in one-plus inning of a 6-2 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.

It marked his shortest outing in 80 career starts.

"Just off. No release point at all," Davis said. "Just one that I'm going to forget, real quick."

The right-hander went 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three career starts versus the A's through 2011 before making three relief appearances against them last season, all while with Tampa Bay.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mets (35-47) at Brewers (34-50)
Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: July 05, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


Following a promising debut, top prospect Zack Wheeler hasn't been quite as sharp for the New York Mets.

Perhaps a date with one of the worst teams in baseball can boost his confidence.

The Mets will try to begin a nine-game road trip in positive fashion Friday night when they send the hard-throwing right-hander to the mound against the lowly Milwaukee Brewers.

While he hasn't made it out of the sixth inning in his last two starts, Wheeler (1-1, 5.06 ERA) may have to pick up a tired New York bullpen in this contest following Thursday's 5-4, 15-inning loss to Arizona. That four-game set, which also included a 13-inning game, saw Mets relievers throw a combined 20 innings.

"It's tough not to come up on top there at the end, but it's a 162-game season and we've got to bring it tomorrow," said Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who homered in the 14th to tie Thursday's game.

Wheeler struck out seven over six shutout innings in a 6-1 victory over Atlanta on June 18 to win his big league debut, but he's since allowed nine runs and 10 hits - three homers - over 10 innings.

"He's a work in progress and his future is bright and his ceiling is high," manager Terry Collins said after Wheeler yielded five runs over 4 2-3 innings in a 13-2 loss to Washington on Sunday.

Wheeler may be able to bounce back as he faces an NL Central-worst Milwaukee team still waiting for sluggers Corey Hart (knee) and Ryan Braun (thumb) to return from the disabled list.

The Brewers (34-50), though, have shown signs of improvement without their stars.

After totaling 11 runs in its final five games of June while batting .167 with runners in scoring position, Milwaukee hit .281 in those situations and scored 18 runs in a four-game split at Washington this week.

Carlos Gomez hit his team-leading 13th home run and 18th double Thursday, but Milwaukee lost 8-5 when reliever Brandon Kintzler gave up a go-ahead, three-run homer to Wilson Ramos in the seventh inning.

Gomez might be rested in this contest after getting pulled late in the game. Manager Ron Roenicke said Gomez's bothersome shoulder had tightened up following a collision with the outfield wall, though the center fielder said he was fine.

"It surprised me when I got out of the game," said Gomez, "especially after I hit a home run."

Leadoff hitter Norichika Aoki went 8 for 20 with three RBIs in the series with the Nationals. He hit .353 against the Mets last season as the Brewers won three of five meetings.

New York's Daniel Murphy went 8 for 18 with a homer, two doubles and four RBIs versus the Brewers last season. He's a career .358 hitter against them.

The Mets (35-47) had won 10 of 15 overall before dropping their last two games to the Diamondbacks to cap a 3-4 homestand.

Josh Satin has given New York a lift, hitting safely in 10 straight games and batting .414 over the last seven with seven extra-base hits and five RBIs. He's hitting .353 in 18 games since being called up from the minors.

Satin and the Mets will face right-hander Johnny Hellweg (0-1, 20.25), who makes his first career start at Miller Park.

Hellweg had a rough major league debut last Friday, getting tagged for seven runs - five earned - and six hits over 1 2-3 innings in a 10-3 loss at Pittsburgh.

He started that game but more recently pitched in relief, surrendering two runs in one inning of a 10-5 loss at Washington on Monday.